Nut lock



S. WISE Sept. 13, ,1932.

NUT LOCK Filed May 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l w: x sf w w l 5 &

INVENTOR. soeomou ML,

mm m ATTORNEY5 Sept. 13, 1932. 3, 55; 1,877,545

NUT LOCK Filed May 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYE) Sept. 13, 1932. -5 W155; 1,877,545

NUT LOCK Filed May 13, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

I eamou [01:06

BY allzw wm A TTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1932. 5, 155 1,877,545

I nu'r LOCK Filed May 13, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllll/ I N VEN TOR.

y'j a mwu @0 62am @Ww ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1932 "UNITED STATES soLoiuoN wisn, or cINc'INNATI, 01-110 NUT LocK' My novel lock is of the type which fits over a bolt in such a way as to prevent access thereto. Sucha'lock has a particular application in the securing of spare tires and'wheels upon motor vehicles;

It is my object to provide a lock which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, and of great strength It is my object to provide a device which is ftrim and-attractive in appearance, and which will be a desirable accessory upon a'car.

It is a further object to provide means secured by my lock-whereby. the tire upon a 7, spare wheel may be protected from theft, 5 which means, whilein the nature of an encirclingband, is not hard to manipulate and 1nvolvesno forcible bending or springing of parts, and which at the same time is not separated from the lock-itself so as to require the assembly of .a number of cooperating instrumentalities in locking the device.

It isstill a further object of my invention to provide a locking mechanism which-is not only key-released but key-operated, so that 2 the operation of locking and unlocking is made extremely simple and easy, and doesnot involve a number of separate manipulations.

These-and other objects ofmyinvention I accomplishr by'that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe a preferred embodiment, and three modifications thereof, it being understood that the same construction-With other 'modie.

fications has usefulness elsewhere, and that various modifications of mystructure may be made by those'skilled intheart in adapting it to various usages, Without departing from the spirit of my invention: Reference is l -made to the drawings which form a part of this specification.

1n the drawings Figures 1 and 2 are respectively vertical and horizontal elevations of the part of my which are Application filed May 13, 1929. Serial No. 362,592.

.Flgure 11 is a partial elevationof a spare I wheel and tire showing my lock.

Figures 12 and 13illustrate another type of lock involving the same principle, and in this instance one adapted to be made in two 5 main parts by a die casting operation.-

Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate in top and bottom elevation and in sectioma lockzof :the same general design as that illustrated in" Figures 12 and 13 but adapted'to be made from an ordinarycasting by a milling opera tion. In this instance the lock has three pieces.

Figures 17 to 20 inclusive are sectional views of a thirdmodification of my lock, characterized by a'construction invwhich the; only exposed moving part is the projecting-Q portion upper barrel section which, when unlocked, is freely rotatable.

Figures 21 and 28 are sectional views showing a tubular plunger assembly and parts,

particularly advantageous in my lock.

The particular embodiment of my lockwhich I shall now describe, is'adapted to 35' prevent accesswith tools to a nut 1,'which 7 is used to hold in place a spare wheel upon a motor car in a manner which shall hereinafter be described. I providea casing 2 in" Figure 9 which is adapted completely :to'eo' cover the nut 1, aud Ii provide alocking' mechanism or bolt which is' adapted to en- 'ter the groove 3 around the nut 1 so as to'prevent the removal of the cover from the nut. U My cover therefore, as 18 more clearly'shown in Figure 7 comprises-a cup-like sectionftj 7' adapted to fit over the nut 1 and completely cover it, and it comprises also arloarrel sec tion 5 adapted to containthe locking-meeha- I nismcwhich secures the. bolt,; The type of 10C bolt which I use is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and indicated broadly as 6. It is an annular member bored to fit the lock barrels which I shall next describe, and having a thickened section 7. The bore 8, being eccentric, divides the thickened section 7, and it will be clearly understood from the drawings, and as I shall hereinafter describe, that when the bolt 6 is pivoted in the barrel section upon one of the barrels, and is swung thereabout, that the thickened portion 7 is adapted to project into the cup section 4- so as to enter the groove 3 of the nut. For the ready operation of the bolt I may, if desired, provide knurled portions Sthereon, and I bore the thickened portion centrally as at 10 to accommodate a pin whereby it 'may be fastened to the upper barrel. The lock casing 2 is slotted as at 11 to receive the bolt, this slot being large enough to permit-the bolt -to swing. In the barrel section 5 I place a lower barrel 12 which is a cylindrical member possessing an eccentric bore 13 which does not go all the way through'but is closed at the bottom. This barrel I placein the bottom part of the barrel section and I pin it in place permanently by a pin 14. .To accommodate this pin, the lower barrel-is bored as at 15, while the casing is bored as at 16. a The length of the lower barrel is not greater than the length of the portion of the barrel section which lies below the. slot 11.

I also provide an upper barrel 17 which also has an eccentric bore 18 of the same size and eccentricity as the bore 1 3, so that at one position of the barrelsin the barrel section these bores may register. The bore 18 also terminates shortof the top of the barrel 17, but a key-slot 19 is cut therethrough.

It will now be evident that if the bolt 6 is placed within the slot 11, and the barrel 17 inserted in the barrel section and through the bore. of the bolt, and when the bolt is pinned to the upperbarrel, the bolt will be free to rotate with the upper barrel, which acts as a pivot for it.

Before so assembling the lock, however, I

place within the bores a locking device possessing a line of cleavage'which may be estab lished by means of a key. at the place where the line of cleavage occurs between the two barrels, as will be readily understood. When this line of cleavage is established the upper barrel may rotate with respect to the lower one; but when the line of cleavage is not established the locking member prevents the rel ative rotation of the barrels because the jl1X-' taposed bores in which it lies are eccentric. The type of locking mechanism which I :prefer to use comprises concentric tubes which may be made of brass. These tubes I have indicated as 20 and 21 in Figures 7 and 8. They are actuated by coiled springs 22 and 23 in the lower barrel. These springs tend to press the tubes upward. Any number of tubes consistent with manufacturing economy may be used, and I prefer to place in the center of the innermost tube a pin plunger 24. The tubes and rod have therein a line of cleavage, and this line of cleavage is such that in order to establish it the tubes and the rod must be irregularly depressed not only to make their several lines of cleavage coincide, but also to make the single line of cleavage thus established coincide with the line of cleavage between the barrels. This is done by means of a key 25 (Fig. 7 and it will be readily understood that by varying the lengths of the severed tubes an infinite number of lock combinations can be made which respond'only to keys specially designed therefor. This type of locking mechanism has been described and claimed in my application Serial No. 129,854, filed Aug. 17, 1926, and it gives a lockstructure which is very inexpensive to construct and which is very diflicult to pick, and has a high factor of safety.

Having placed the bolt 6 in position I assemble this locking mechanism in the barrel section and extending into the bore 13 of the lower barrel. I thereupon insert the upper barrel so that the locking mechanism extends within its bore 18. The upper barrel is drilled as at 26. for a pin 27 which passes through the hole 1.0 and is fastened into the hole 26. My lock will be locked when the thickened section 7 of the bolt extends inwardly and lies partially within the cup section 4, and in this position the pin 27 will be inaccessible.

value in my lock. Here I have shown the concentric tubes 20a and 21a, having an internal plunger pin 24a. Each tube, as in Figures 7 and 8, is equipped with its coil spring; but in'this modification, the plunger pin has a lower section 24b, which has been bored out to accommodate a thin coil spring 240, so that the pin plunger may also be spring controlled. This gives a type of look much more difficult to pick, and more positive in its action. To center the spring in the hollow pin plunger, I make use of a headed pin 2&(Z, of such size that the shank will fit within the spring 2 10. This pin, when its head rests against the bottom of the lower barrel. section, controls the action of the springgand prevents its getting out of alignment or fouling with the other springs. The proportion of the parts is such that the end flpossible, where desired, so to construct a cas- 55 stud 31, instead of carrying the nut 35, has

of theheaded pin is always projecting to some extent into the bore of thepin plunger section The lower section 20?) of the next concentric tube, I preferably form with a collar 200 setolf by asharp shoulder from the'diminished shankthereof. This construction makes my lock practically unpickable. In an endeavor" to pick thelock, it is necessary to depress the,

outer tube and endeavor to rotate the upper barrel until a line of cleavage is found, and

then, insequence, to depress the inner tubular I up the inner tube section.

As will be seen from Figures 5 and 6, and also from Fig. 11, the shape of the lock casing. which I prefer to use is a diminished oval looked at from on top, the diameter of the cup section 4 being slightly larger than the-diameter of the barrel section. This shape, however, is not essential to my inven tion, and may be varied as desired. I prefer a one piece casing, but a casing in several parts may be constructed. The essential features of the casing are a cup section and a barrel section together with a provision whereby the bolt uponrotation may be caused tolie with a portion corresponding to 7 extending partially within the cup section. It will be seen that the bolt rotates with the upper barrel so that when a key is inserted in the slot 19 far enough to establish the line of cleavage, this key may beusedto operate the lock because as it is-turned the upper barrel must turn with it. Accordingly it is ing for my lock that the bolt is not at any time exposed, but is completely under cover.

In Flgure 10 I haveshown a spare wheel rack or carrier 28 bearing a flange 29 to which are attached several studs 30, 31. The-spare wheel has a hub portion 32 With a flange 33. This flange is bored at the proper intervals as at 34, to slip over the studs so that it may be held in place by nuts 35. The lowermost tightened thereon the nut 1; and it will be understood that when my lock is slipped over this nut so that it lies within the cup section an and the lock is locked, the nut 1 cannot be unscrewed from the stud 31 and the spare wheel cannot be removed fromthe carrier.

The spare wheel bears a rim 36 held by spokes 37 and carrying a tire 38. I shall now describe a mechanism whereby my lock may the be used to prevent the removal of this tirefrom the-rim. While otherexpedients are satisfactory, such as flexible bands, chains,

wire rope,- and the like, I prefer to provide.

a steel strap 39, one end of'which'is-held by thestud 31so as to be inaccessible, beneath the flange. For stilfness, I mayform a rib 40 on the strapgand the strap itself is bent asat 141 so as partially to encircle'the tire.

The strap, however, terminates at a pointsuch that it is easily possible to lift the spare wheel and tire out of its'embrace; and near the termination of itI'provide a round or enlarged b01042 terminating in a slot 43.

I next provide for attachment to my'lock a a second strap44. This lies beneath the casing of my lock and may be attached thereto by machine screws from underneath or otherwise as may be desired." This 'strap'may also, i'f preferred, be reinforced by a rib anditr is shaped sothat when my lockis in position, the-other end of it will be disposed 'contig uous to the end of the strap 39. For the purpose of engagement therewitlnI provide the end of the strap 44 with a reduced neck 46 anda head 47 which isof" such a size that it'will pass through the hole 42 but not through the slot 43.

In unlocking the spare "wheel and tire I insert a key 25 in the key slot 19 thereby estab-' lishing a line of cleavage in the locking mechanism. Upon turning this key either to the right or left the bolt 6 is caused to revolve until it disengages the channel 3 in the nut 1. Thelook body may thereupon be pulled outwardly, lifting the cup section'from the nut 1; Becauseofthe engagement of the straps 39 and '44 my'lockbody, supported by the strap 44, may be allowed to hang downwardly. If I then unscrew the nut 1 with a wrench and the nuts 35,'I'1nay remove the spare wheel and tire from the car. Instead of permitting the straps 39 and 44 to remain in engagement .I may, if desired, disengage the lock body and its strapentirely, laying;

since the construction of parts which I have described will permit them to one side,

this. I amnotbound by the specific locking engagement of the straps. r

In Figures 12 to 16 inclusive,.I have illustrated two other modifications of my lock. The first of these is shown in section in Figure 12 and comp-rises a barrel shaped section 4a adapted to enclose and cover the nut 1. In this instance, to facilitate the better operation of the look, I may place a coiled spring 26 in the upper end thereof. The body of the v i look containing the cupsection 4a is made'of a single diecasting which I have indicatedby the numeral 27, and. which has, lying .next' the cupsection a base 28 integral with which 7 is the lower barrel section 12a. A slot 11a.

gives access to the cupsection and has a'portion asshown very clearly in Figure 13 ex.-

serves the same function as the bolt 6 in the embodiment of. Figure 5. It will be clear that the rotation of the barrel section 17 a will carry this pin either to a position in which one end projects into the cup section 40, and may engage the groove 3 in a nut, or

into a position in which the pin rides out of the cup section and into the prolongation of the slot 11a. The two barrel sections will be equipped with the concentric bores 13a and 18a, in which my tubular plunger lock mechanism may be inserted. This construc-' tion gives a very cheaply made lock mechanism having buttwo main parts both of which may be formed by a die casting operation. The pin 60, serves not only to lock the nut in the cup section, but also serves to hold the upper barrel section 17a in its proper relationship in the lock.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate'the same type of lock in general, but in this instance the lock has been constructed from an ordinary casting. In an ordinary casting opera- "tion as distinguished from a die castin operation, it will be inconvenient mechanically to cast the member 27 comprisingthe cup section, the base 28 and the lower barrel 12a in a single piece and at the same time cast "therein the slot 11%. It would be possible tomake a casting without this slot; but it would then be inconvenient mechanically to machine therein the prolongation of the slot '11a, to the right in Figure 13. In the'i'orm of the lock then shown in Figure 15, the base section 28a is drilled to receive the lower barrel section 126. The cup section 4a and the base 2860 will have been cast in one piece and the slot 110 machined therein. The

lower barrel 1% is-then inserted and pinned A- third modification of my lock is illus trated in Figures 17 to inclusive, and is ,at once the strongest and simplest modification of my invention. It has a body 31, which may be cut from rolled bar stock, and which is drilled as at 32 from one side to form a cup section to accommodate the nut ,1. From the other side it is drilled as at 33 to form .a seat for the upper barrel section 34, which inthis instance projects slightly above the lock body and may be provided with an upper knurled rim if desired. The lower barrel section is integral with the lock body as shown, and is indicated in the figures by the numeral 35. The barrel sections are equipped with the usual eccentric bores 36 and 37 to house the concentric tubular plungers. The bore 33, which holds the upper barrelsection, is provided with an undercut groove 38, giving access" to the portion 32.- A pin 39 is fastened to the upper barrel 34, is of such a length as to ride within the groove 38 and enter the portion 32, and serves the double function of locking the nut l in the cup portion 32, and holding the upper barrel section in assembly in the look. A hole 40 may, if desired, be provided in the cup section opposite the groove to facilitate the insertion of the pin and the fastening of it into the barrel 34 by a driving fit. In this type of lock the upper barrel, when imlocked, is free to rotate all the way around. The casing (excepting for the groove 38) may if desired be made by a die-casting rather than .a machining operation.

Various modifications of my inventionare within the power of those skilled in the art to construct without departing from the spirit'thereof.

Having thus described my invention,\vliat I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a nut lock a casing comprising a cup section to cover a nut, and a barrel sect1on,'

the nut having a groove thereabout, a bolt pivoted on a barrel in said barrel section so as to revolve therewith, and meansfor locking said barrel in said'barrel section, said means comprising an eccentric bore through said barrel registering in one position with a bore in said barrel section, and locking means in said eccentric bores adapted for the formation of a line ofcleavage to permit rotation of said barrel.

2. In a nut lock a casing comprising a cup section to cover and prevent access to a nut,

a barrel section, upper and lower barrels in said barrel section,the lower barrel fastened to said casing, the upper barrel bearing a bolt adapted to enter said cup section, eccentric bores in said barrels and locking means adapted for the establishment of a line of cleavage by means of a key disposed in said eccentric bores.

3. In a nut look a casing comprising a cup section to cover and prevent access to a nut bearing a groove, a barrel section, upper and lower barrels in said barrel section, the lower barrel fastened to said casing, the upper bar-- rel bearing a bolt adapted to enter said cup section, eccentric bores in said barrels and cleavage may be established and whereby said upper barrel may be rotated.

4. In a nut lock a casing of substantially oval shape in one elevation and semi-cylindrical shape in the other, said casing bearing a cup section open at the bottom and closed at the top to receive a nut, a barrel section open at both ends, said barrel section slotted intermediate its ends to permit the passage of a bolt, upper and lower barrels in said barrel section, the lower barrel fastened therein against rotation, the upper barrel bearing a bolt bored to receive it, said bolt fastened to said upper barrel against relative rotation, said bolt bearing a thickened section which may be caused to enter said cup section, whereby said nut bearing a groove to receive said bolt may be locked within said cup section, and means for locking said barrels against relative rotation.

5. In a nut lock a casing of substantially oval shape in one elevation and semi-cylindrt cal shape in the other, said casing bearing a cup section open at the bottom and closed at the top to receive a nut, a barrel section open at both ends, said barrel section slotted intermediate its ends to permit the passage of a bolt, upper and lower barrels in said barrel section, the lower barrel fastened therein against rotation, the upper barrel bearing a bolt bored to receive it, said bolt fastened to said upper barrel against relative rotation, said bolt bearing a thickened section which may be caused to enter said cup section, whereby a nut bearing a groove to receive said bolt may be locked within said cup sec-V tion, and means for locking said barrels against relative rotation, said means comprising eccentric bores in said barrel adapted to fall in alignment when said bolt is in locking position, the bore in the lower barrel terminating short of the bottom thereof and the bore in the upper barrel terminating short of the top thereof, and locking means in said bores adapted for the formation of a line of cleavage at the juncture of the barrels so that when said cleavage is formed said barrels may be relatively rotated.

6. In a nut lock a casing of substantially oval shape in one elevation and semi-cylindrical shape in the other, said casing bearing a cup section open at the bottom and closed at the top to receive a nut, a barrel section open at both ends, said barrel section slotted intermediate its ends to permit the passage of a bolt, upper and lower, barrels in said barrel section, the lower barrel fastened therein against rotation, the upper barrel bearing a bolt bored to receive it, said bolt fastened to said upper barrel against relative rotation, said bolt bearing a thickened section which may be caused to enter said cup section, whereby a nut bearing a groove to receive said bolt may be locked within said cup section, and means for locking said bar- -rels against relative'rotation, said'means comprlsing eccentric bores 1n sa d barrel adapted to 'fall in alignment when said bolt is in locking position, the bore in the lower barrel terminating-short of the bottom thereof and the bore in the upper barrel terminating short 'of, the top thereof,iand locking :means in said. bores adapted for the formation of a line of cleavage .at the'juncture of'- the barrels so that when said cleavage is formed said barrelsmay be relatively rotated, said means, comprising spring pressed tubular. concentric plungers, a keyslot through the closed endr'of said bore in said upper barrel whereby,

per barrel may berotated. a 7; In a-lock, a metallic member-comprising a'cup shaped: section adapted'to enclose a nut and an adjacent section integral therewith comprising a base and a barrel, a slot giving access to said cup section, an upper barrel section having a skirtto enclose said lower barrel section and-a bolt to extend through'said slot into said cup shaped-section, said slot prolonged; in said metallic member to permit said'bolt to ride out of said cup section, and locking means to control the relative rotation of said barrel sec- 7 tions.-

by means of said line so of cleavagemay be established and-said up- 8, In a lock, a metallic member comprising a cup shaped section adapted to enclose-a rnut andian adjacent section integral therewith'comprising a base and a barrel, aslot giving. acoessto said cup section, an upper barrel section having a skirt to enclose said lower barrelsection and a bolt to extend through said-slot into said cup shaped section,- said slot prolonged in said metallic member to p mit said bolt to ride out of said cup section, and locking means to control the relativerotation of said barrel sections, said locking means comprising a series of concentricspring-pressed tubular plungers having a line of cleavage, and: lo-

within said socket undercut to give access,

to said cup section, an upper barrel section in said socket, and a pin fastened into said upper barrel section and having a portion riding within said groove and adapted to enter said cup section and lock a nut therein,and

key controlled means for locking said upper barrel sectio-nto said lower barrel section against rotation with respect to said body. 10. In a nut look, a body member bored to form a cup section to receive a nut to be 1 ,7 locked, and bored from the opposite'side to form asocket to receive an upper barrel section, leaving a portion ofthe body therebeneath to form a lower barrel section, a groove within said socket undercut to give access to said cup section, an upper barrel section in said socket, and a pin fastened into said upper barrel section and having a portion riding within said groove and adapted to enter said cup section and lock a nuttherein, and key' controlled means for locking said upper barrel section against rotation with respect to said body, said means comprising concentric, spring-pressed tubular plungers housed in eccentric bores in said upper and lower barrel sections;

11.. In a nut look, a body member bored to form a cup section to receive a nut to be locked, and bored from the opposite side to form a socket to receive an upper barrel section, leaving a portion of the body therebeneath to form a lower barrel section, a groove within said socket undercut to give access to said cup section, an upper barrel section in said socket, and a pin fastened into said upper barrel sectlon and having a portlon riding within said groove and adapted to enter said cup section and lock a nut therein, and key controlled means for locking said upper barrel section against rotation with respect to said body, said means comprising concentric, spring-pressed tubular plungers housed in eccentric bores in said upper and lower barrel sections, said upper barrel section projecting from said body sufiiciently to form a member to be gripped in turning it.

12. In a lock having concentric springpressed tubular plungers, each with a line of cleavage therein, a centrally disposed plunger pinhaving a line of cleavage, the lower portion bored to receive a coiled spring, a spring in said bore, and a headed pin with a shank disposed within said spring, and'of suflicient length that when its head rests upon the bottom of a lock member in which saidplungers are disposed, a portion of said shank will at all times lie within the bored portion of said pin plunger.

SOLOMON ,WISE. 

